Share of electricity production by source in Zambia
Zambia: Share of electricity production by source was 11.1% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity production by source in Zambia, 1990–2022
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 11.1% for share of electricity production by source in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 39.3% on the previous year and up 7,583.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity production by source in Zambia peaked at 15.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2009.
That places Zambia 183rd out of 208 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of electricity production by source in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.8% | — |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -7.1% |
| 1992 | 0.9% | +29.1% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -23.7% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -14.9% |
| 1995 | 0.7% | +11.1% |
| 1996 | 0.7% | +6.4% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | -2.7% |
| 1998 | 0.8% | +21.5% |
| 1999 | 0.7% | -20.4% |
| 2000 | 0.6% | -8.6% |
| 2001 | 0.6% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 0.6% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 0.6% | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -77.4% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +4.9% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | +11.6% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +1886.0% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +90.5% |
| 2017 | 13.7% | +139.7% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | +12.3% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 14.5% | -5.2% |
| 2021 | 8.0% | -45.1% |
| 2022 | 11.1% | +39.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 11.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 63.9%, 17% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 11.1% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.1%, 17% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of electricity production by source in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +1886.0% | 0.1% | 2.8% |
| 2017 | +139.7% | 5.7% | 13.7% |
| 2016 | +90.5% | 3.0% | 5.7% |
| 2006 | -77.4% | 0.6% | 0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 0.1% | 15.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.2% | 8.0% | 14.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More energy & mining data for Zambia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.0312 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 22.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity production by source in Zambia?
- Share of electricity production by source in Zambia was 11.1% in 2022, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity production by source recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest share of electricity production by source recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2009.
- How does Zambia rank for share of electricity production by source?
- Zambia ranks 183rd out of 208 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of electricity production by source rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7,583.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity production by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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